Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen score tons as England near India’s total

Alastair Cook (122) and Kevin Pietersen (138 not out) both notched up their 22nd Test centuries to lead England to 298 for four at lunch on day three of the second Test at Mumbai.

The duo, in the process, recorded the highest third-wicket partnership at the Wankhede, putting up 206 runs. The previous record was 194 runs set by Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli against England.

They also now hold the joint highest Test centuries record among Englishmen, leaving behind greats such as Wall Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoffrey Boycott.

Ravichandran Ashwin (one for 105), who had been wicketless so far, finally got the breakthrough with half an hour left to go for lunch.

The off-spinner sent a flighted delivery just short of a driving length the England captain’s way; Cook went for a textbook front-foot defence but the ball turned a little more than he expected, clipped the edge and went straight to MS Dhoni’s welcoming gloves.

Jonny Bairstow (9) then fell in the last over before lunch to Pragyan Ojha, becoming the left-arm spinner’s third victim of the innings.